Canon 10D and non-Canon lenses

[Canuck]

Hi all,
I have recently bought a Canon 10D and got at first sporadic "Err 99" messages, and then it got so that almost every pic I was taking came up with this error message, so I rang Canon, and they asked me what lenses I had and I said that I have Sigma lenses, and they said that was the problem. Has anyone else used and successfully taken pics with it without Canon lenses? Please note the firmware I have is 1.0.0.0. This is extremely frustrating, but those pics I got that day (this past Saturday. 3 May) turned out awesome despite it being really dark and heavy overcast weather. I was wondering if I'd have to call it quits early because it was getting really nasty here and looked like it was going to rain but never did (thankfully). I can say even under the conditions, it performed awesome and I got the real sense of depth that 35mm film seems to lack as noted on holiday taking pics in the Austrian Alps. I can also say that even the one pic that wasn't that great I wasn't really concerned, as I was able to adjust the lighting and it looks great. What's the worst I could do? I could delete it and try again! It's not like 35mm where you have to wait to get it developed! That said, any help would be appreciated.

[Sketcher]

I've had no issues w/my Tamron SP AF24-135mm 50th.

[Dans_D60]

Sigma will update older nonconforming lenses. Link is here: http://www.sigmaphoto.com/Html/news/News.htm
Dan
http://www.pettusphoto.com

[CyberDyneSystems]

Apperently Sigma is doing what they can to make there existing lenses work with the new 10D,... score one for Sigma.

My only lens so far is a Sigma 28mm - 200mm zoom. I'm finding it a great beginners lens with a wide range of uses. I have shot about a thousand pics with it in just over a week (I'm trigger happy :) ) and I have had NO ISSUES. To me its the best lens I've ever used,. (and the only one lol )

But I have a 70mm-200mm 2.8 in the mail,. so soon we will see. (I needed the 2.8 aperture in the hopes of the extra light gathering aiding being able to use it where i work during shows and rehearsals without a flash)

[rlcphoto]

I just had the same problem with a 10D just this weekend with a Sigma 70-210 f/2.8. I put the camera on 800 ISO and I got nothing but that error 99. I put it on 400 ISO and it worked just fine. I will be sending it off to sigma as well. I will try it with my Vivitar Series 1 70-210 f/2.8-4.0 APO. My Sigma 8MM Fisheye worked OK but I had the 10D set at 400 ISO. I will try out the other lenses and ISO settings and get back to everyone.

[dcchan2]

rlcphoto wrote:
I just had the same problem with a 10D just this weekend with a Sigma 70-210 f/2.8. I put the camera on 800 ISO and I got nothing but that error 99. I put it on 400 ISO and it worked just fine. I will be sending it off to sigma as well. I will try it with my Vivitar Series 1 70-210 f/2.8-4.0 APO. My Sigma 8MM Fisheye worked OK but I had the 10D set at 400 ISO. I will try out the other lenses and ISO settings and get back to everyone.

I had the same problem with the same lens, but it depends only on the aperture, not on the ISO.

It would shoot happily at f2.8, but at any other settings it gives Err 99.

[mdao]

dcchan2 wrote:
rlcphoto wrote:
I just had the same problem with a 10D just this weekend with a Sigma 70-210 f/2.8. I put the camera on 800 ISO and I got nothing but that error 99. I put it on 400 ISO and it worked just fine. I will be sending it off to sigma as well. I will try it with my Vivitar Series 1 70-210 f/2.8-4.0 APO. My Sigma 8MM Fisheye worked OK but I had the 10D set at 400 ISO. I will try out the other lenses and ISO settings and get back to everyone.

I had the same problem with the same lens, but it depends only on the aperture, not on the ISO.

It would shoot happily at f2.8, but at any other settings it gives Err 99.

I have a sigma 17-35. From 17-24mm at 2.8 to 5.6, it front focus the subject others than that it work fine. The canon lenses did not exhibit similar behaviour.

[jazt]

I picked up a new Sigma 70-200 f2.8 on Sunday, 5:30 PM (This was my first Sigma experience).

I was so excited that when I left the building I went directly to a local park. Within 2 hours I took exactly 119 pictures within 2 hours at a local park. As I was walking to my car I took my last picture, number 120 with new lens at 7:30 pm.

The lens made a "Grrr" sound. My 10D was showing ERROR 99. At this point the hair on my neck is standing up and my stomach is flipping.

Power off/on, reset, switch batteries...spin on my head. No joy in Sigma land. I put on my Canon 50 f1.4 and Canon 28-135 IS both still worked. Ok.... I’m not too worried.

Next day (today), I drove back to the dealer. They “mount the Sigma 70-200” on their 1D (no10D’s in the building!!), Different camera…Same "Grrr" sound. Every one within 10 feet of the counter could hear it. Lens is DOA (+120).

I now have a new Canon 70-200 f4, I think I'll be happier.

I also cancelled the Sigma 15-30 they were holding for me.

I picked up a new Sigma 70-200 f2.8 on Sunday, 5:30 PM (This was my first Sigma experience). While waiting at the counter I took six pictures with the new lens. (Over the previous 2 days I had taken about 45 pictures with the demo lens. Everything was looking good)

I was so excited that when I left the building I went directly to a local park. Within 2 hours I took another 111 pictures. As I was walking to my car I took my last picture, total picture count is now 112 (at park) + 6( at store) = 118.

The lens made a "Grrr" sound. My 10D was showing ERROR 99. At this point the hair on my neck is standing up and my stomach is flipping…I’ve read about this problem...Noooo, no, no…please not me!!!!

Power off/on, reset, switch batteries...spin on my head. No joy in Sigma land. Get to the car, try on my Canon 50 f1.4, then the Canon 28-135 IS. Both STILL work. NO "Error 99". Ok.... I’m not too worried.

Next day (today), I drove back to the dealer. They “mount the Sigma 70-200” on their 1D (no 10D’s in the building!!, and please no "mounting jokes").

Different camera…Same "Grrr" sound. Every person within 10 feet of the counter could hear the
"Grrr". I smiled, they smiled.

I now have a new Canon 70-200 f4, I think I'll be happier.

I also cancelled the Sigma 15-30 they were holding for me.

[rlcphoto]

Thanks for the insight! I went back and checked and it was not the ISO. My lens will be going back to sigma to modify. On my 8mm Sigma Fisheye it worked fine. Haven't had a chance yet to check my Vivitar Series One lens yet will bring everyone up to date soon on that lens.

Thanks, Rodney

[CyberDyneSystems]

The Sigma woes are a bit worrying :(

So far I have been lucky.

I have now traded in my first sigma lens back to Ritz for credit (thew 28-200mm) and used the credit towards a Sigma 50mm-500mm f/4 - 6.5

This lens is also working perfectly with my camera.

It was my understanding that it was the earlier Sigmas causing the error99 and that newer lenses,. especially the EX series had no trouble. But the 70-200mm f/2.8 stiry is scary. It sounds like that may have been a bad lens alltogether. Like the motor gears died?

Anyway,. I have my fingers crossed as I have two more Sigmas in the mail,. and a Canon 50mm 1.8.

[Canuck]

Hi all,
Thanks for the info, now it is time to ring Sigma and ask them what it would take to mod them do I can use it with the 10D. The next thing will be bad is that I'll be w/o camera for a few weeks. I recon this is far better than the "Err 99" that I have been getting, and means if I go anywhere there will be no pics taken. That isn't cool. Why else would anyone by a 10D and battery grip just to collect dust. I think not! The other chioce is to get the Canon lenses and that opition looks like about $500 plus shipping and time (possibly backorder time if applicable). Note: it took them a month to send it and 3 days to get here. The Sigma lenses are the 28-80 F/3.5-5.6 Macro Lens and 70-300 F/4-5.6 DL Macro Super AF Lens. It came with the EOS 50E that I have had for 3 1/2 years and it still woks great! I can definitely say that it is a world of difference shooting the D10 w/ battery grip and 70-300 mm lens then shooting the 50E, no grip with 70-300 lens. After shooting with the 10D all day and going back to the 50E it just didn't feel right. I can't explain it but I'm sure most of you know what I'm talking about. I have also noted that the autofocus on the 70-300 doesn't work for anything, and the 28-80 is fine, infact lighning fast. I very rarely shoot AF and I mean very rarely! The saga continues...

[AndyDe]

I've just sent my Sigma EX 105 macro off to Sigma UK for a chip change for the 10D. They have charged me only £5 for return postage & reckon on a 3 week turn round.

[Canuck]

Andy,
What was the address you sent them to in England? It would be appreciated. South East England, like Dover, or Norwich, or London, or where? Just wondering in East Anglia.
-Mike

[AndyDe]

Canuck wrote:
Andy,
What was the address you sent them to in England? It would be appreciated. South East England, like Dover, or Norwich, or London, or where? Just wondering in East Anglia.
-Mike

Email on way to you, incase you don't get it the address is :-

13 Little Mundells
Welwyn Garden City
Herts
AL7 1EW

[CyberDyneSystems]

Canuck,

I know what a bummer it is to have a great camera and no lens! (I'm actually sort of back in that boat as it will be a few days before I get a mail order in and all I have in the meantime is the giant 500mm Sigma. Not to easy for casual shooting :)

One option would be to grab yourself a 50mm f/1.8 Canon lens for under $100.00 to tyde you over. It will always be a handy lens with that nice aperture,. and people say it is a great bargain. I have one in the mail right now myself. You may even get one at a local shop.

[Canuck]

Cyberdyne,
LOL! Yes it sucks not being able to have the use of the camera but this too is short lived. I should have them back by weeks end. (A friend is borrowing the EOS 50E at the moment as he has wanted to dabble with more than a point and shoot and I wonder what he thinks of it. I can tell you I'm impressed with the performance of the EOS 50E that I've had for 3 1/2 years. Now we jump ahead to about a week ago and I have the 10D. Feom what I have seen the performance is in a world of its own. I can't even begin to imagine what the D1/D1S are like after shooting with the 10D. I was out picture taking and this place is not known the world over for sun and well, I can tell you there was none last Saturday. It was that great colour/weather I love: overcast, lots of clouds, no sun, no rain, nice and cool! Right, even some pics turned out a little darker than I had hoped, I was still able to tweek it and make everything look ok! I had intenionally shot a picture, into a nearby bush and large depth of field just to see what would happen. Ok, so if I didn't like the pic, I'd delete it and try again...no big deal. Well, the frist shot was spot-on, in terms of what I wanted. The other cool bit was that the lack of depth so noted in 35mm film, in my experience wasn't there. This was great and I was shooting landscape in small-fine resolution! What was the difference? Idunno, but it seems to have sorted the problem of lack of depth in pictures, as I mentioned earlier in the post that opened up this forum. So for now I was looking up other lenses to get for this camera and as much as I want to, I can't afford the "L" series lenses. That is not a possibility, lest I get some $$$, or should I say £££ for this hobby. You know, the exchange rate was like $1.65 to the £1 today. Yes that means that everything here was for today 65% more expensive than it would otherwise be, never mind the VAT (Value Added Tax). I can really get "AndyDe" wound up here! Although I wouldn't want to do that! Speaking of which, where the heck does the Road Tax, TV Tax, VAT, and like go? I know he knows as well as I that some of the roads are awful here. I guess it is something you have to see over here. Please don't mistake me though, I really like it here! I'm sure he'd have some fun with something in the US. I'm veering off the subject but I could e-mail you what I'm talking about. Back to the camera bit. I will send them to a repair place over here. I was surprised how cheap it was, free other than p+p. I was reading somewhere that the Sigma EX lenses are really noisy. Maybe DP review, or was it on this site??? I was looking into revamping the selection of lenses, and getting F2.8, 82mm 24-70 lens, or 135-400 F4.5-5.6 77mm lens, or something like that, with a small f stop. The problem is that F stop and price are inversely proportional, small F stop; high price! Even the 17mm would be a 27mm effectively; however, the 400mm would be effectively 640mm! Now that could prove interesting! Hmmm...more food for thought. Later!

[CyberDyneSystems]

For me the 10D is my first SLR period,. film digital whatever. My experience with cameras is limited to point and shoot focus free and an Olympus Digital :)

So the 10D is like holding a minor Diety in my hands! :)

I'm waiting for a day that is both sunny and I don't have to work 16 hours,.. very tricky,.. but none the less yesterday in the pouring rain I took some shots with the Sigma at 500mm (X1.6 for "800mm") as well as wider shots,... in the grey weather i am not picking up any excessive grain. I like this lens. When I get a chance (time out of work) I'll post a few of the cormorant with the flounder! :)

[CyberDyneSystems]

P.S. what part of Canada?

My Dad lives in Newfoundland, and I've spent nearly every summer of my life in Georgian Bay.

[Canuck]

Cyberdyne,
Let's see here that time it was up thru the Thousand Islands of New York into Canada and along Lake Ontario to Kingston. I remember seeing a sign that was like 175km to Kingston and I was like man that's like 3 hrs to Kingston, until I looked at the speedometer and was going with the flow at about 120km/hr. So and hour and a half later I was in Kingston. It's beautiful, a lot like a lot of Canada! I've also been to Toronto and Niagara Falls but that was like eons ago. I have to go see the new Hockey Hall and Museum yet. I can hear this "What kind of hockey fan are you, not to make the pilgrimage (if you will) to Toronto?" Well, that is another story in and of itself. Let's just say that I've had hockey in my life as long as I can remember and then some. Speaking of which, I wonder how the 10D w/o "L" series lenses but more like average lenses, like the Sigma ones I have would faire in a hockey game???
Speaking of which, I'm kicking around the idea of getting some better lenses w/ small F stops, like in the F2.8, or F3.5, or F4 type range instead of the ones I have. Any suggestions anyone, trying to keep the price reasonable?? I see Sigma has a 170-500mm F5-F6.5 w/ 86C filter for like $610. Interesting! Ther are also 135-400mm F4-5.6 77mm filter for around $500. Also available are 17-35mm F2.8-4 and 82mm filter for like $440, or 28-70mm F2.8 77mm filter for $300. Hmmmm....
Later!

[CyberDyneSystems]

Canuck,

I have been shooting with the Sigma 50mm-500mm for two days (in the pouring rain) but I am liking it despite the uncooperative wheather. So far I have a Red tail hawk in a tree,. A cormorant swallowing a flounder,. and a White Heron of some sort wlking on the shore,. all in the rain :(

I had read that the 170-500mm was an older lens and not to good with the 10D,.. the 50-500mm on the other hand is part of the EX series and will even work woith Sigmas teleadapters. (the 170-500 won't) and in a nutshell the 50-500mm is just supposed to be better build quality as part of "The new Sigma" line.

I also have the 70-200mm F/2.8 in the mail. (yes I am now broke!)

I needed the f/2.8 for the work I do in dark theatres,. but the 500mm was for outdors and wildlife which is my passion.

As I said I've only had it for a few days,. but I do love what I have gotten so far. I'll keep you posted on both the 500 and the 70-200 when I get it.

I'll try and upload a pic or two as well.


Oh and I've driven through Kingston many times on my way to Georgian Bay,... I go over the Thousand Islands bridge and up "the 401" towards Toronto,.. then turn north! Small world.

[CyberDyneSystems]

Link to the pics :)

http://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthread.php?t=10728

[Canuck]

Cyberdyne,
Man, it is a small world! I'd be interested to see what yo think of the lens on the way. I oft wonder how we all afford this hobby. One can very easily blow many thousands of dollars on this hobby (I speak for myself) and this isn't including the "L" series Canon lenses! I was trying to remember the highway in Canada, yes, the 401. I have some great shot of fall foliage from up there but it was taken on 35mm film and that's the way it stays as I have no way to scan it, or the 35mm negative. I'm waiting to see when someone returns this way, to see if I can copy a ton of 35mm negative and burn them to CD, or DVD if he has a DVD burner. This proposition could take some time. In the meantime, I'll sort the Sigma lens issue and look into procuring some newer ones. I was looking at a few in particular made by Sigma, they were mentioned in a previous post. The end of the day, I probably could have bought another 10D and sold it on e-bay and made a profit :) Just kidding. I'd probably end up waiting another few months for it and in that time I could have gotten it all sorted several times over. Tomorrow, it is off for some planespotting. I'm curious as to how the 10D works with high speed moving tagets, like aircraft. I much charge the batteries, though! Speaking of which....To be continued...